IndyBlog

MMJ: State says centers should sell seeds

As first reported by Westword, a letter from attorney Bob Hoban to the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division resulted in clarification of the issue of where MMJ centers should get their seeds. A variety of sources were used previously, including the Denver-based Centennial Seed Company.

Here's what division director Laura Harris wrote in a letter dated April 12: "The MMED finds no statutory or regulatory authority to prohibit an MMC licensee, or an MMC applicant currently authorized to sell medical marijuana ... from selling medical marijuana "seeds" that were cultivated in its commonly-owned optional premises cultivation to registered patients and other licensees, pursuant to applicable statutory restrictions."

See the full letter at the bottom of the MMED's website. In the mean time, here's Westword'sWilliam Breathes again:

Ben Holmes, founder of Centennial Seeds, suspended his seed sales in February after learning that he was in legal limbo. He had hoped for a system that followed state agricultural regulations and allowed for more plant research: "If this wasn't a scary plant, this is how they would do it," he said at the time. "That's how they do it with corn or any other seeds."

Although upset by Harris's response to Hoban, Holmes says he wasn't expecting a good outcome — in fact, he dissolved his company last week. Still, he points out that MMCs don't have the time or space to devote to seed production, adding that any plants used for seeds would technically be taking medicine away from patients.